This year-long course studies the history, material culture, and historical and contemporary realities of book publishing. Rooted in scholarly and hands-on research of early printed books and pamphlets, this course studies the historical background of book production in relation to type design, page layout, print technologies, illustrations, and more. With guest visits to and from industry professionals in independent and DIY publishing, this course also considers current concerns and issues within the publishing industry. As a final over-arching project, students will be provided with the opportunity to bring all aspects of a book (written by their peers) to publication and final promotion.